Fastening device



April 30,1940. F. BLAIR 2,199,148

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Novl 24, 19:59

INVENTOR ankam Blau ATTRNEYs Patented YApr. 1940 ras'rnmxc nr-:vlcr:nmmm'nwr. washington, n. c.. mim of twenty-five per cent to JohnCnBlair, New

York, N. Y., and twenty-'five per cent to Benton vW. Blair, Fleetwood,N. Y.

, application November g4, lass, serial No. :sans

' 17 Claim. (CLM-110) This invention relates to a fastening ,device orthe like. Y

Qne .of the objects of this invention isto provide a simple,inexpensivgg.and` practical fasten- 5 ing device well adapted "to meetvarying conditions of use. Another object is to provide a fasteningdevice of the above character the use of which will be simple and whichmay be quickly and easily operated by the user. Another obiect l is toprovide a fastening device of the above character which will be neat andattractive in appearance, and yet be of such sturdyconstruction as towithstand hard usage. Another object is to provide a fastening device ofthe above character l which may be manufactured from'light andinexpensive materials. Other objectswill be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly. consists in the features of-construction,combinations of elements,

2o and arrangements of parts, as will -be exemplified l in the structureto be hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of whichwill be indicated in the followingclaims.' a

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown several of the variousypossible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of oneembodiment of my fastening device;

Flgureil isa top plan View of the fastening device shown in Figure i; f

. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the fastening device shown inFigure 1, with the top flexed inwardly, positioned on a piece of.material;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the fas-- tening device shown `inFigure 1 with the topv flexed outwardly. thedevice being attached to apiece of material;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fasteningl device forming anotherembodiment of my invention:

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in Figure 5 withthe top flexed inwardly;

Figure 10 'is a sectional elevationof the device v shown in Figure 8with the top flexed inwardly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the 'draws ing.

Referring now to Figures l, 2, 3, ,nd 4. the'body of the fasteningdevice isla snap'fact'ing disc lo. Around the periphery of disc Il are apluralityof wedge-shaped projectionsv I l'. preferably integral withdisci0. AsmaybeseeninFigure 3,thesel 5 projections extend inwardly from theperiphery f of il at an acute angle to the bottom of said 4disk.

Referring. to Figure 3, when the snap-acting disc Il is flexed inwardly(upwardly as shown in l0y Figure 3), it causes the points of projectionsIl to move outwardly or away fromthe center of the disc. Withthe'projections vin thisposition, the disc is placed adjacent a piece ofmaterial I2 so that the points ofthe projections rest against 15 thematerial. Whenthe disc is snapped in the other direction or outwardly(downwardly as viewed in Figure 4) the'points of projections Il movetoward each other or toward the center of said disk and drive intomaterial l2, as shown in 20 Figure 4, securely fastening the devicethereto.

' As seen in Figure 2, the face of dlsc'ill may carry a design I3 whichmay be formed upon or affixed to the surface of the disc. y However. itshould be'understoodthat there are a plurality 25 of different waysandmethods by which designs are placed on buttons, many of which areapplicable to this type of device.

Thus, I have provided a fastening device which may be inexpensively madeand by which a button or the like may be securely and quickly fastenedto a piece of material or the like. When it is desired to remove thedevice, the-user presses inwardly upon the center of the disc, causingit to flex inwardly. This causes the projections to 35 snap outwardlyand free themselves from the material.

It mighthere be pointed out that this device -eliminates the pin usuallyfound on the back of buttons. These pins, as is well known, are liable4o tobe driven into the user either. when'the pin is being placed on theuser or while it is being worn.

rAs may beseen from the above description, my

*construction* eliminates this objectionable feaextendingupwardlytherefrom. The tips lic and 55 IIc of these projections have saw-toothededges (Figure 5). As the claws are secured to the ilexing portion of thedisc, they move as the disc is flexed. Thus,l when the disc is flexedinwardly,

upwardly as seen in Figure 6, the points are,

moved apart or. outwardly in directions away from the center of saiddisk, and when the disc is flexed in the opposite direction or outwardly(downwardly as seen in Figure 7), tips llc and llc nearly meet, as seenin Figure 7. A e

`When it is desired to secure this embodiment to a piece of material,the disc is ilexeoiirinwardly.l

This separate tips isc and I'Ic, which are then placed in contact withthe material. Next, the

disc is flexed outwardly causing tipsi6c and llc to move toward eachother and grip the material, securing the device thereto.'- f

In some cases, such as on womens dresses,

buttons effects a change in the appearance of the dress. InFigure 7, Ihave shown a projection 20 on material i9, vwhich may be made either of-metal or of cord and may be secured to the material in anysuitablemanner. This projection provides a definite anchor to which abutton of the above type may be attached. Furthermore, when buttons arebeing changed, this projection marks the spot where the ybutton belongsso that after changes, the buttons are alwaysproperly positioned.Accordingly, a person could buy sets of buttons of different colors orcovered with different materials4 and sired.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, I have shown a cover member 22, which maybe made out of any flexible material such as Celluloid. The edge 25 ofthis cover member extends over the edge of the snap-acting disk,securing the cover member in place thereon. This cover may serve as abase on which a design may be placed if it is notdesirable to place thedesign directly uponl the metal face of disk I 4.

Another embodiment of my device is shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10. Thistype comprises a center formed of a snap-acting discr 2l having arms21a, 2lb, 2Ic, and 2id formed thereon. The arms and the disc arepreferably integral, being stamped from sheet metal, and the tips ofthearms have saw-toothed edges (Figures 9 and 10). These arms extendoutwardly from the snapacting disc in contrast to the inwardly extendingprojections on the typeof device shown in Figlure 1, and thus the modeof operation is the reverse of that of the, embodiment shown in Figure1.

. In operation, the disc is flexed outwardly (upwardly as viewed inFigure 9), and the yends of the arms are placed upon a piece vof clothor similar material. Then the center ofthe disc is pressed, which actiondrives'the tips of the'arms into the material. Then, the disc snapsinwardly (downwardly as viewed' in Figure 10). 'I'his causes the ends ofthe arms, which at this time extend into the material to which thedevice is to be attached, to spread outwardly away from it is desirableto change the buttons and other ornaments. In the case of a dress, tochange change buttons'.l as de- In use, the disk is rst heated to atemperature y slightly above 100"to ex it,y in`v one direction.

Next, it is heldlon the materialto which itis to be attached. When thedisk cools, it ilexes in the opposite direction and securely fastensitself to the material. As the flexing temperature of the disk is above100, normal temperatures cannot `cause `a device of this type tovrelease itself. In

order to release it from the material, the disk is heated to atemperatureabove its flexing point,

and then it snaps in the opening direction, releasingitshold on thematerial.

- Thus, Ihave provided a fastening device which is designed to beeasily, quickly, and securely attached to a piece of material or thelike. Furthermore; I have-provided a fasteningy device which eliminatesthe usual pin found on the back=of buttons and which thus may beoperated and worn by the user with a maximum of safety. I have alsoprovided la fastening device which permits buttons or ornaments ondresses or the liketo beeasily andquickly changed'. Thus, it will nowbecome clear that I have provided a thoroughly practical and durablefastening device in which the several objects .hereinabove mentioned,4as well as many others, are accomplished..

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and, asmany changes vmight be made in the embodimentv above set forth, it is tovbe understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in theaccompanying drawing, is to be interpreted asillustrative andnot in alimiting sense.

I claim: j 1

1. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of materialor the like, incombination, a snap-acting disk, and projections on saiddisk, ther ends of said projections beingsharp and in juxtaposedrelationship, whereby, when said disk is flexed in one direction, theends of said projections move away from each other, and, when said diskis flexed in the opposite direction, the ends of said projections movetoward each other.

2. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, afpair ofprojections mounted onfsaid disk, and means securing said projections tosaid disk, said projections extending towardv each other, whereby, whensaid disk is flexed inwardly, the ends of Asaid projections moveoutwardly, and whenl said disk is flexed outwardly, the ends of saidprojections move inwardly.

3. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of materialor the like, in combination, a snap-acting disk, a plurality ofprojections formed substantially on the outer edge of said disk, saidprojections extending inwardly from the outer edge of said diskl to formacute angles, with one surface of said disk, whereby, when said` disk isflexed outwardly, the endsA of said projections .move inwardly, and,when said .disk is flexed inwardly, the ends of said projections moveoutwardly.

4. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of materialor the like, in combination,

`a snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections having points formedon said disk whereby, when said disk is flexed inV one direction, thepoints of.

said projections move inwardly and, when said diskl is flexed in theopposite direction, the points of said projections move outwardly.

formed on said disk, said projections having f sharp ends and extendinginwardly toward an axis passing through the center of said disk,-

whereby, the ends of said projectionsmove outwardly away from said axiswhen said disk is flexed inwardly, and move inwardly toward said axiswhen said disk is flexed outwardly.

7. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, and clawssecured to one surface of said snap-acting disk, said claws includingupwardly extending portions which terminate in tips lying injustapositioned relation, whereby, when said disk is flexed inwardly,said tips move outwardly away from each other, and, when said disk isflexed outwardly, said tips move inwardly toward each other.

8. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, and a-plurality of projections on said disk, said projections extendingoutward 1y away from an axis passing through the center of said diskforming obtuse angles with one surface of said disk, whereby, when saiddisk is snapped in one direction, the ends of said projections moveoutwardly away from each other, andwhen said disk is snapped in theother direction, said projections move inwardly toward each other.

9. In a fastening device, in combination, a

snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections formed on the outeredge of said disk extending outwardly therefrom, whereby, when said diskis exed in one direction, the ends of said projections will moveoutwardly away from each other,`

and, when said disk is flexed in lthe other direction, the ends of saidprojections will move iny wardly toward each other.

10. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting disk, aplurality of arms formed upon the outer edge of said snap-acting diskhaving saw-toothed ends, said arms extending outwardly away from theedge of said disk and'forming obtuse angles with one surface of saiddisk.

whereby, when said disk is flexed inwardly, said edges move outwardlyAaway from the center of said disk, and, when said disk is flexedoutwardly, said edges move inwardlytoward the center of said disk.

11. In a fastening, device, in combination, a

4piece of material, a snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projectionson said snap-acting disk. said projections being adapted to secure saiddisk to said material when said diskis flexed in one direction, and torelease said disk from said material when said disk is flexed in theothlca` directlon.

12. In a fastening device, in combination, a snap-acting member, andmeans extending outwardly from the outer edge of said snap-actingmember, 'said means forming an obtuse angle with one surface of saidsnap-acting member.

' whereby, when said member fiexes in one directiori lthe ends of saidmeans move away from each other,"and, when said member iiexes in theopposite direction, the.ends of said means move toward each other.

13. In a fastening device, in combination, a piece of material, athermostatic snap-acting disk, and a plurality of projections on saidsnapacting disk, said disk by being subjected to varying temperaturesbeing adapted to be connected to said material.

14. In a fastening device, in combination, a-

snap-acting disk capable of being snapped out of its normal shape butadapted to snap'back to its normal shape when released, a plurality ofprojections formed on said disk, said projections being so disposed withrespect tothe normal shape of said disk that when said disk is snappedout of its normal shape, the ends of said projections move away from thecenter of said disk, and.

when said disk snaps back to its normal position,

the ends of said projections move toward said center.

15. In a fastening device adapted to be attached to a piece of materialor the like, in combination, a snap-acting disk, and a plurality ofprojections having sharp ends extending inwardly from the outer edge ofsaid disk'in a direction toward an axis extending through the center ofsaid disk to form acute angles with the bottom surface of said disk,whereby, when said sharp ends arev placed in contact with said materialand said disk is flexed outwardly, said sharp ends movetoward eachother, driving into said material andV ailixing said disk thereto, and,when said angles with the bottom surface of said whereby, when saidprojections are placed in contact with said material and said disk isnexed inwardly,'said projections move outwardly away from each other,driving into said material to afiix said disk thereto, and, when saiddisk is flexed outwardly, said projections move inwardly, releasing saiddisk from said material.

17. In a fastening device adapted to be secured to a piece of materialor the like, a thermostatic snap-acting disk, and a plurality ofprojections having sharp endaextending from the outer edge of said disk,whereby. when said sharp ends are placed in contact with said material,the

flexing occurring when said disk cools drives said sharp ends into saidmaterial, and-the flexing occurring when said disk is heated causes saidprojections to move away from said material.

FARNHAM zum.

